Would you stick a bandage on your child’s tooth and then expect your child’s mouth to stay healthy?

Yuck!- we didn’t think so. Like bandages, fillings have their place to protect your child’s tooth after the damage has been done. For sure a filling is no cure for cavities, if proper hygiene isn’t practiced daily. That’s one of the reasons we encourage you and your child to visit our dental office regularly.

Streptococcus Mutans, the major cavity-causing bacterium, uses sugar to produce acids that dissolve dental enamel. Everyone is at risk for cavities and other bacterial-based problems like gum disease. Your child’s risks increase if your child eats a lot of carbohydrates and especially, if your child suffers from dry mouth (xerostomia) because saliva is your child’s natural buffer against acid.

Thanks to minimally invasive technology and procedures, we can remove less healthy tooth enamel than in the past, but prevention is still your child’s number one cure!

We love to give recognition to our new friends & our wonderful existing patients who are kind enough to refer their friends & relatives to us! Here are the new patients that became members of our practice family this March. We’d like to welcome you & wish you all the best.

Whether to seek orthodontic care is an individual decision. Many people live with crowding, overbites or other types of alignment problems without the motivation to seek orthodontic treatment.

However, many people feel more comfortable and self-confident with properly aligned, attractive teeth, and orthodontic care can help improve appearance and build self-confidence.

Unlike strictly cosmetic procedures, orthodontic care also can benefit long-term dental health. Straight, properly aligned teeth are easier to maintain with proper oral hygiene, such as flossing and brushing. This can help reduce the risk of tooth decay as well as gingivitis, an infection that damages gums, and occurs when bacteria cluster around the area where the teeth meet the gums.

In addition, people with bad bites may chew less efficiently. In severe cases (particularly when the jaws are not aligned correctly), this can result in nutritional deficiencies. Correcting bite irregularities can make it easier to chew and digest foods. Improperly coordinated upper and lower front teeth also can create speech difficulties, which can be corrected through orthodontic treatment.

Finally, orthodontic treatment can help to prevent premature wear of back tooth surfaces. As you bite down, your teeth withstand a tremendous amount of force. If your front teeth don’t meet properly, it can cause your back teeth to wear more.

Furthermore, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7. By then, enough of the permanent teeth have emerged to identify potential problems. However, you shouldn’t wait until all the permanent teeth erupt in the mouth. Starting orthodontic treatment early in life offers many advantages. For example, while children are still growing, expansion devices can be used to modify the width of the palate, which can help teeth come in straighter. Such treatment is best done at an early age to maximize a patient’s orthodontic potential.

If you have any questions about orthodontic treatment for you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact our office, (562) 912-2007 we will help answer your questions and reserve an orthodontic consultation with our Orthodontist, free of charge. Do not put it off any longer, CALL US NOW!

“We understand the challenges faced every day by those who care for autistic children. Our goal is to make their life a little easier.”

“Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the way a child behaves, thinks, communicates and interacts with others.” According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “autism affects up to 1 in every 150 school-age children.” Children with autism generally are perceived as having problems understanding the world around them and difficulty with verbal communication. Therefore, special care must be taken when providing their dentistry, remembering that they are away from their usual routine, in a strange environment and that a stranger is asking them to keep still and cooperate with access to their mouth.

At Dr. Daniel Klein’s Funtastic Dental & Orthodontics & Orthodontics, we work together with the patient, the patient’s parents and/or caregivers to determine the best treatment approach. In some cases, the individual experiences oral sensitivities that make dental treatment difficult or they are so hyperactive that their safety cannot be assured in a conventional dental office setting. In these situations “sleep dentistry” may be necessary, so that the child can be asleep and unaware of the procedures.

Some dietary components protect against dental caries and promote good dental health. Foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are considered as food good for teeth because they increase the saliva flow that neutralizes acids and helps to clean the teeth of food particles and sugars during chewing. Many diseases are spread by poor coughing and sneezing techniques. Most people teach their children to put their hands in front of their mouths and noses to stop germs from getting into the air.

Unfortunately, this technique puts the germs on their hands. Unless she/he washes their hands immediately they will contaminate anything they touch. If she/he can’t grab a tissue in time, she/he should sneeze into his upper arm, elbow, or sleeve.

When you bring your child in for their 6 month exam, Dr. Daniel Klein & Dr. Golian are also screening your child for any signs of oral cancer. Every hour of every day, someone dies of oral cancer in the U.S.. This serious dental disease is often curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages.

We are OPEN, for your convenience EVERY SATURDAY! We have extended both our weekday and weekend hours. Call now to schedule an appointment for your child at the best day and time for you and your child.

Attention, soda drinkers. To keep your smile sparkling, root beer is your best bet. Compared with other sodas, it contains fewer of the acids that harm your teeth. Diet colas are the runner-up, with less sugar than regular soft drinks. The worst pop for your pearly whites? It’s clear soda! The main ingredient is citric acid, which is tougher on enamel than the phosphoric acid in cola.